Poughkeepsie Land Bank Awarded $1.07 Million Grant

POUGHKEEPSIE – With a focus on promoting equitable development and revitalization in Dutchess County, the Dutchess County-Poughkeepsie Land Bank Corporation (DCPLB) announced that it has been awarded $1,070,000 through the New York State Homes and Community Renewal’s (HCR) Land Bank Initiative. This competitive grant was awarded to DCPLB’s first phase of redevelopment in Dutchess County and the City of Poughkeepsie, and is part of a broader effort by HCR to support land banks statewide in their missions to combat blight and revitalize communities.

DCPLB will use this funding to acquire and stabilize distressed, tax-abandoned properties, demolish derelict structures to eliminate blight, and support the rehabilitation of affordable housing units in partnership with Hudson River Housing. This initiative is also expected to leverage an additional $1 million in private investment, contributing to the creation of stronger, more vibrant neighborhoods and helping to break barriers to homeownership as the region faces a housing and affordability crisis.

“Fairness, equity and transparency are at the heart of our mission,” said Amy Gigliuto, executive director of the Dutchess County-Poughkeepsie Land Bank. “We’re not just renovating buildings, we’re taking potential and creating opportunity. This is about opening doors to homeownership for people who give so much to our community – and ensuring every neighborhood has a chance to thrive.”

As part of its redevelopment efforts, DCPLB will work directly with community-based contractors and businesses, ensuring the benefits of this investment ripple outward across the local economy.

Housing has long been identified as one of the most pressing issues facing residents in Dutchess County. A recent report released by the Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley, Voices of the Hudson Valley, found that access to affordable housing is among the top concerns of residents of Dutchess County. The report found that to afford rent in the county, single renters would need to work 60 hours per week, as rent has continued to increase at a greater rate than wages over the past decade. DCPLB’s work directly responds to this need by transforming blighted properties into affordable homes, creating more pathways to homeownership for individuals and families.

New York State has appropriated more than $160 million to support the services and expenses of 31 Land Banks, addressing housing needs throughout the State. This Land Bank Initiative funding has returned nearly 300 housing units to occupancy through rehabilitation and development, saved 180 properties for reuse through stabilization interventions, improved community safety by demolishing 180 blighted properties, and invested in predevelopment studies to prepare nearly 300 properties for redevelopment.
“This $1.07 million award to the Dutchess County Poughkeepsie Land Bank represents an essential investment in our community’s future,” said New York State Senator Rob Rolison, who was mayor of the City of Poughkeepsie at the time of the creation of the land bank.